Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Conservatives announced that they plan to hold a third round of talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) on Thursday about the possibility of forming a coalition government.

After eight hours of closed-door discussions in Berlin between representatives of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the SPD, CDU secretary general Hermann Groehe said a formal decision on more talks would be made later Tuesday. (AFP)

German Chancellor and leader of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel waves to supporters after first exit polls in the German general election (Bundestagswahl) at the CDU party headquarters in Berlin September 22, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

German Chancellor and leader of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel waves to supporters after first exit polls in the German general election (Bundestagswahl) at the CDU party headquarters in Berlin September 22, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch